Holly Holm comes into her MMA career as an 18-time boxing World Champion in three separate divisions, is considered one of the greatest female boxers of all-time and is the current WBF World Light Welterweight and World Welterweight Champion. She retired from boxing with a 33-2-3 (9 KOs) record.

Trained by Mike Winkeljohn and Greg Jackson, Holm made her mixed martial arts debut in March 2011 winning the fight via TKO in the second round after her opponent was unable to continue due to leg kicks inflicted by Holm. Between 2011 and 2014, Holm compiled a 7-0 record finishing all but one of her opponents. Five of her six TKO victories during this period came by means of kicks, Powerful and precise kicks are indeed perhaps the most peculiar elements in Holm's fighting style. While at a first glance this may sound unexpected given Holm's background as a boxer, it should be considered that Holm also trained in kickboxing, and even competed in some kickboxing bouts, before her boxing career started to gain momentum.

After her 7-0 winning streak, Holm signed with UFC. In her UFC debut she faced Raquel Pennington and picked up a split decision victory. Few months later she fought Marion Reneau and won by unanimous decision. After this fight, Holm was chosen as the challenger for Ronda Rousey in a bantamweight title fight to be held in November 2015. Despite Holm's immaculate record, this choice sparked discussions as to whether she would be a credible opponent for Rousey, given that Rousey had easily finished even her highest rated opponents in fights that had often lasted only few seconds. Furthermore, Holm's performances during her two previous UFC fights gave the impression that she would not be ready to pose a significant challenge to Rousey. However, in the title fight Holm proved most predictions wrong, by producing a technically perfect performance and knocking Rousey out in the second round with a head kick followed by a series of punches to the grounded opponent. This victory made Holly Holm the reigning female bantamweight UFC champion.